Chris Ford of Baltimore's Wit & Wisdom has been named "People's Best New Pastry Chef," a national award chosen by readers of Food & Wine magazine.

Food & Wine, which has been naming America's best new chefs for 24 years, introduced a category for pastry chefs this year. In an online promotion for the new category, Food & Wine ran a poll in which readers were asked to select one pastry chef in each of the East, Central and West regions. The pastry chef with the most votes overall would win the honor. On Feb. 15, Food & Wine announced that Ford had claimed the most votes nationwide.

The finalists for the people's choice award were not necessarily in contention for the editors' awards, which were also announced Feb. 15.

A graduate of the Orlando Culinary Academy in 2005, Ford has worked at Trummer's On Main in Clifton, Va., where he was named one of StarChef.com's "Rising Stars" in the D.C. area, and more recently at Rogue 24 in Washington.

What's on Ford's dessert menu at Wit & Wisdom? A warm pear tart with Bartlett pear and brown sugar ice cream; a maple custard with orange toffee, almonds and bourbon; a Meyer lemon parfait; and something of a signature item, the Baltimore Bar, a play on the Baby Ruth, with peanuts, pretzel and chocolate.

Wit & Wisdom is at 200 International Drive in the Four Seasons Baltimore. For more information, call 410-576-5800 or go to witandwisdombaltimore.com.

Canton opening: BangBang Mongolian Grill opened Feb. 15 in the Can Company space that formerly housed the Austin Grill.

Based in West Des Moines, Iowa, BangBang announced its expansion into the Baltimore area last July. The Canton location is the first to open on the East Coast. Another location is set to open at the Hilltop Plaza on Annapolis Road in Bowie on March 15.

Promoting a "design-your-own-meal" concept, BangBang lets customers select from a list of proteins and vegetables, season their dish to taste and watch as their meal is seared on BangBang's circular grill.

BangBang Mongolian Grill is at 2400 Boston St. in Canton. For more information, call 888-676-2264.

Prize time, the sequelThe Restaurant Association of Maryland announced the finalists for its 2012 industry awards. Winners will be announced at the association's annual gala on April 16 at Martin's West.

The public gets to vote for nominees in seven categories, including favorite new restaurant, chef of the year and two new categories — craft brew program and food truck.

Among the contenders for the new craft brew program award are Max's Taphouse and Brewer's Art in Baltimore, Frisco Tap House & Brewery in Columbia and SoBo's in Salisbury.

The food truck nominees, all based in and around Baltimore, include the Gypsy Queen, Haute Dog Fabulous Franks, Iced Gems, Kooper's Chowhound Burger Wagon and Miss Shirley's Cafe.

The nominees for favorite restaurant are Baldwin Station in Sykesville, Box Hill Pizzeria in Bel Air, Houlihan's in Columbia, Passage to India in Bethesda, and Peter's Inn and Red Star Bar & Grill in Baltimore. The lineup for Maryland's favorite new restaurant includes Havana Road Cafe in Towson, The Americana and Corner BYOB in Baltimore, de Lazy Lizard in Ocean City and Fishnet in College Park

Chef-of-the-year nominees are Patrick Fanning of The High Spot in Cambridge, Jim Barrett of Azure in Annapolis, Daniel Wecker of Elkridge Furnace Inn, John Hufnagel of the Grille at Peerce's in Phoenix and Jeff Smith of Chameleon Cafe in Baltimore.

In other categories, Johnny Rad's in Upper Fells Point was among the nominees for favorite bar or tavern, and Bistro Blanc in Glenelg, Aida Bistro & Wine Bar in Columbia, the Tasting Room in Frederick, Red Red Wine Bar in Annapolis and Mr. Rain's Fun House in Baltimore will compete for wine and beverage program of the year.

Voting is under way on the association's website, marylandrestaurants.com